AJ shook TY's hand with solemn gratitude, "Thanks, you really saved my ass."
TY smiled, "Oh, it's nothing at all. Simply be thankful I arrived in time."
TY's rifle hung low on his back like a bag, tethered only by a nylon strap that wrapped around his shoulder. Somehow, despite its thin design, the strap was able to hold the rifle steadily.
"Fortunately, I managed to deploy Heldyr and effectively cripple the automaton for you."
RL tilts her head, "Heldyr?"
TY, noticing his lack of explanation, quickly answers, "It's the Auxiliary Device I've acquired. That's the name."
He swings the rifle around to the front. Its silky white sheen glistens in the orange sun.
"It's pretty much just a rifle, but the rounds used are spent by thes green bars on the side. The number of bars indicates how many rounds are left."
"It's essentially a rifle, though its operation hinges on the expenditure of the green bars displayed on its side. The number of bars indicates the remaining rounds," He traces the the green bars, "It accumulates energy over time. Of what type of energy I do not know. Nevertheless, each round contains remarkable penetration capabilities. And upon the initial pierce it erupts. Truly an indispensable accessory in these times of D-Bug infestations—a marvel of scientific design."
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Heldyr
LvL 2 - Firearm
[An advanced energy-storing sniper rifle designed to accumulate and store power over time. This energy is then transmogrified into specially engineered rounds that feature high penetration and explosive effects upon impact. The rifle can fire up to seven of these rounds before requiring a recharge period of around 2-3 hours per round. Heavily armored targets are specifically susceptible to this weapon.]
Damage - 3/20
Penetration - 8/20
Reload speed - 4 seconds
Number of rounds - 7
Recharge Rate - 2.5 hrs/round
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TY allowed AJ to study the weapon, "How'd you acquire this? Did you make it yourself?"
TY shook his head, "I discovered it when I awoke in the lab, it was hanging on the wall. I took it for protection, unaware that this would soon be my sole safeguard against the lethal hands of giant robots."
There wasn't a weapon when I woke up. Could he…
AJ, decides to pursue his thoughts, "Were you the first unit to wake up?"
"No, I don't believe so. The door to the lab was already pried open."
"Wait, what? My Warden said I was the second."
He looked at his Orbital Warden, unlike Owen, who would have emulated embarrassment, it remained stoic. "As far as I was aware, Doomsday Unit TY-005 was the first unit that was pinged to me to have awoken. And you, the second."
That's similar to what my Orbital Warden told me," TY added, swinging Heldyr over his shoulder once more, "That I was the first, but I'm certain there was one before me."
We have four units here, where could the other one be? Hopefully he's already inside.
RL scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, " I was the last to wake up which kinda sucks. I feel like I'm behind. Also I must be a heavy sleeper."
"That you are, miss RL. I was waiting for nearly a day back at the Research Center."
"Probably because I didn't want to meet your dumbass!"
The two began to argue with each other. TY also engaged with them, laughing at the two.
All their banter ended when the woman who RL and AJ saved limped over to the three of them. She slowly gazed upon them each. She appeared to still be somewhat out of it. The impact must have taken a lot out of her. Just as much as AJ was lucky that TY had arrived, she was lucky that AJ heard her battle before it became fatal.
It makes sense that she's dazed, even though I'm exhausted from all the chasing and running I was doing just to keep up with the D-Bugg.
The woman bowed with the elegance of a noble. "Thank you all for killing the D-Bugg."
She had dark skin and silver eyes that seemed to dig into AJ's soul. Her light pink hair was tied up into a ponytail and spiked outward at the frills. She was about as tall as RL, maybe a couple centimeters shorter. She wore a green midriff fashioned with long sleeves and a green skirt that fell halfway down her thighs. A pair of leggings rose from her black shoes up to her skirt.
RL mirrored her actions, "It's nothing. I'm RL-004, a Doomsday Unit just like you. This tall, angry looking guy over there is AJ-001. The one with the gun is TY-005. What's yours?"
"I'm PS. PS-002. And this here is my Orbital Warden, Yun."
RL's eyes widened, "You named your Warden too?"
"It was easier than saying its full name, and I don't like saying Orbital Warden all the time."
RL smiled, cupping her hands around PS's "PS, we've just become the best of friends."
"O-okay."
Owen looked at her Warden with a type of conceit, "An adequate name, sure. It is no Owen though."
PS also looks familiar. Its like I've seen her face before in my memories. TY on the other hand... I'm not sure. Maybe I have, but my mind is too fuzzy to catch any glimpse of him in it.
AJ picked up the metal bar that PS had draped during the fight with the D-Bugg.
"Here you go. You dropped this."
She accepted, "Thank you, It's a shame that yours is broken now."
AJ looked at the Machete. It was definitely a shame. The blade had been the reason he was able to fight the D-Buggs at all, giving him just enough offensive power to pose a threat to the C-ranks, however, the B-tier D-Buggs were another beast entirely.
If I'm to survive, I need an Auxiliary Device as soon as possible.
"Wait…" TY chimed in, his face painted in confusion, "You guys don't have any Auxiliary Devices on your person?"
The three shook their heads.
"There was none when we awoke. " PS said, "So, at least for me, I have made do with whatever makeshift weapons I've come across."
Somewhat not listening to PS explain herself, TY continued in his amazement, "You lack Auxiliary Devices, and yet you scuffled with a B-Tier. What? Are you insane? How many D-Buggs have you felled up until now?"
"Maybe 5 or 6." AJ said, "...But they were all C-tiers."
"A couple of them," PS quickly answered, "And they were the same rank as AJ's."
"I've… mainly been running away from them, RL said sheepishly, "But I helped kill this one!"
TY looked at them as if they were supernatural monsters, "To have the capacity to go toe to toe with any type of D-Bugg without the proper equipment... You're insane, completely insane."
Their light and easygoing conversation continued for a while until Owen broke it up.
"I suggest we make our way inside the City Command Center before more D-Buggs show up. In there it will be safe, and you'll be given all the answers you need about this world, your mission, and your past."
The party of four agreed to make their way to the blue shield after scavenging the D-Bugg for parts. Given it was a higher rank, the usable materials were a lot better and abundant. They all decided to divvy out the spoils as equally as possible. RL kept the core, AJ was given the ignition boosters on the D-Bugg's hand, PS got the thrusters and TY retrieved the remains of the eyes and the rest of the materials. They all had their Orbital Wardens store the materials in their storage units.
At the shield, Owen, Yun and the others floated up right next to it. Their eyes turned yellow and a number of varied beeping sounds erupted from them. Their parts started to swirl rapidly until it all came to a sudden stop.
"Alright, we all should have access to enter the shield now, let's head inside. I grow tired of the outside."
"As if you even know how to grow tired," RL teased.
Owen eye turned red, "Bot's run out of battery, do they not?"
RL paused, "Wait, so you run out of battery? Do we need to charge you or something?"
Owen gave no response and entered through the shield, the others followed.
AJ gave the field a final look. The marking of their battle with the D-Bugg remained. Tons of tossed up dirt and grass floated forever suspended in the air. Craters left stains in the once near perfectly cut lawn, and the D-Bugg laid still in its resting place. A petrified scene that was created by them had marked the world.